The Rail, a gourmet burger restaurant at Summit Mall in Fairlawn, has started a monthly beer class featuring Ohio-made brews and appearances by Ohio brewers.
Restaurant owner Mike Mariola started the classes after noticing plenty of interest in Ohio beer, which also happened to be the best-selling draft beer at The Rail.
“There seemed to be this curiosity of finding new stuff and there are a lot of local breweries popping up,” he said. “[The classes] seemed like a nice way to introduce new beers to our customers.”
Matthew Barbee, owner and brewer at Rockmill Brewery in Lancaster, will visit Thursday. Rockmill makes well-respected Belgian-style ales on a former horse farm.
There are two tasting sessions — at 6 and 7:30 p.m. The cost is $12. Seating is limited and reservations can be made by calling The Rail at 330-864-7245.
The Rail will stock Rockmill Witbier and Dubbel for those who cannot attend the tasting.
Akron’s Ohio Brewing Co. will be featured at the next class on March 15.
For more details about the restaurant, see http:// therailburger.com.
Winter Warmer Fest
The lineup is set for the sixth annual Winter Warmer Fest in Cleveland. The event, a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, is 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Windows on the River.
The festival features more than 20 Ohio breweries. Advance tickets are $35 ($40 cash at the door) and include a souvenir glass and 20 tasting tickets. To see all the breweries and beers, or for tickets, go online to http://winterwarmerfest.eventbrite.com/.
New leader
Eric Bean, the owner and brewer at Columbus Brewing Co., has been elected president of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.
He was chosen at a meeting last year but won’t officially take the position until August. The current president is John Najeway of Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. in Akron, who has headed the group since it was founded in 2008.
Bean said his goals include better promotion of Ohio-made beer and getting all the brewers in the state more involved in the organization. He also said he’d like to organize a large association-sponsored beer event in Columbus and smaller events around the state.
Special beer tasting
The Heinen’s in Brecksville will hold a beer tasting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.
It will feature beers from Rivertown, Mt. Carmel, Buckeye, Lager Heads, Rockmill, Cellar Rats, Thirsty Dog, Indigo Imp, The Brew Kettle and Willoughby. There also will be cider from Griffin Cider Works, light foods and Ohio cheeses.
Ilona Simon of Budapest Blonde will be mixing cocktails and I will be available to chat and sign copies of my book Ohio Breweries. The cost is $15. To register, call 440-740-0535.
New Ohio brewery
Buckeye Lake Brewery, a new brewpub in Buckeye Lake in central Ohio, opened Sunday. It’s the third brewery to open in Ohio in the last few months.
For more details, see http://buckeyelakebrewery.com.
International Beer Fest
Tickets are on sale for the second annual International Beer Fest at the I-X Center in Cleveland. The event, considered the largest competition of world beers in the Midwest, is May 11 and 12.
The festival will feature three tasting sessions with more than 200 breweries and about 800 beers. Beers are judged and medals handed out, and there are plenty of educational seminars. General admission is $45, VIP tickets $75. For details or to buy tickets, go to www.ixbeerfest.com.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his beer blog at www.beer.ohio.com.
